TOPEKA, Kan. (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) -- Topeka Metro will launch its Brake for Buses safety campaign on Tuesday, July 14, reminding motorists to give public transit buses the space they need to operate safely. The campaign emphasizes safe driving around buses while they are turning, making frequent stops, and merging back into traffic from bus stops.
The campaign comes as Topeka Metro bus operators continue to experience hundreds of dangerous close calls each year. In 2025, Topeka Metro bus operators reported 280 near-miss incidents while driving, including:
- Twenty-three percent reported vehicles turning left in front of a bus at intersections.
- Twenty-one percent reported vehicles nearly sideswiping a bus or abruptly pulling in front of one while traveling in the same direction.
- Eighteen percent reported vehicles running a red light or stop sign.
- Eighteen percent reported vehicles pulling alongside or in front of a bus as it was leaving a bus stop.
- Eleven percent reported vehicles pulling from side streets or parking lots directly into the path of the bus.
What many drivers may not know is that a fixed-route bus traveling 40 mph requires approximately 250 feet to stop under ideal conditions, including driver reaction time—more than twice the 120 feet typically needed for a passenger vehicle.
"Every time one of our operators gets behind the wheel, they're responsible for the safety of dozens of passengers while navigating traffic that can change in an instant," said Bob Nugent, General Manager of Topeka Metro. "The Brake for Buses campaign is about reminding everyone that a little more patience and a little more space can prevent crashes and save lives. Safety is a shared responsibility."
Topeka Metro encourages drivers to slow down, expect frequent bus stops, watch for passengers crossing the street, and allow buses enough room to safely merge back into traffic. Passing a bus on the left should only be done when the lane is clear and there are no bus passengers walking in a crosswalk or one hundred feet of an intersection.
A bus stop lasts only a few moments, but one unsafe decision can have lifelong consequences.
Slow down. Watch for passengers. Brake for Buses.